Swing clock



Oct. 24, 1950 w. L. HANSEN 2,527,417

SWING CLOCK Filed March4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 l Inventor WILLIAM IbHANSEN (bum mg:

W. L. HANSEN SWING CLOCK '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1948 Patented Oct. 24, 1950 SWING CLOCK William L. Hansen, Princeton, Ind., assignor to Hansen Manufacturing Company, Princeton, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application March 4, 1948, Serial No. 13,021

7 Claims.

This invention relates to clocks and to clock mechanisms, and particularly to such a mechanism including a swing pendulum in which the pendulum motion is merely simulated and does not control the operation of the clock mechanism.

In connection with modern clocks it is oustomary to provide a synchronous electric motor which is connected through suitable reduction gearing with the shafts which drive the clock hands or other indicating members for the clock.

While such clock mechanisms are eminently satisfactory for keeping time, there is a desire in the trade for a clock arrangement including a swing pendulum so that clock designs can be constructed simulating old type mantel clocks and the like wherein the pendulum was the central regulating element. The purpose of this is to add sales appeal to the clock, but, at the same time, to maintain the inherent advantages of a clock driven by a synchronous electric motor.

The .primary object of the present invention is to provide a clock work as described above having a swing pendulum but in which the regulation of the clock is independent of said pendulum.

A still further object is to provide a clock work having associated therewith a freely swinging pendulum in which the pendulum can swing with true harmonic motion but which does not influence the regulation of the clock in any respect.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanyin drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a clock constructed according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the clock work with the face and hands of the clock removed and showing the means for causing the pendulum to swing;

Figures 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections taken through the clock work and are indicated by the lines 33 and 4-4 on Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, a clock constructed according to this invention may comprise a case member ID and in the upper part thereof is a clock mechanism evidenced in Figure 1 by the second, minute, and hour hands indicated at I2, l4 and I6, respectively. These hands sweep over a dial 1 8 and serve, as is well known, to indicate the time.

According to this invention the lower part of the case It includes a window openin 20 and mounted therein is pendulum 22 which swings back and forth and thus simulates the operation of the old type pendulum regulated clock.

According to this invention the several shafts supporting the second, minute and hour hands 2 are connected to :be driven by a synchronous electric motor and means are provided, in engagement with the gear train between the said motor and the shafts, for urging the pendulum 22 to swing with harmonic motion.

Figure 2 shows the frame of the clock work 24 and from which the pendulum 22 is suspended by an arm 26. The arm 28 extends upwardly and is connected with a member 28 which is in the form of an escapement or verge having the two legs 30, each of which carries a pin 32. The pins 32 are arranged to engage the periphery of a cam wheel or star wheel 34. The star wheel 34 is connected to be driven in rotation by the gearing of the clockwork and as it rotates will cause the verge or escapement 28 to oscillate about its pivotal support 36.

The connection of the arm 26 with the verge 28 is frictional only and as the said verge oscillates the arm and pendulum are also urged to oscillate. By selecting the correct speed of oscillation of the verge 28 so that it substantially corresponds with the natural period of the pendulum and arm, the said pendulum can be caused to swing with true harmonic motion.

It will be apparent that under these circumstances the amount of power necessary to maintain the pendulum in oscillation is very slight. The drive arrangement for the pendulum thus offers little load to the clock driving mechanism.

The constructional arrangement of the clock work and connection between the pendulum and verge will be better seen in Figures 3 and 4,

wherein it will be noted that the drive motor 36 drives through a worm 38 into a worm wheel 40 and that the said worm wheel 40 in turn drives through a worm 42 into a worm wheel 44 mounted on the shaft 46 supporting the sweep second hand I2. The shaft 46 also mounts a pinion 50 which drives through the reduction gearing indicated at 52, 54, 56 into the shaft 58 mounting the minute hand 14. The usual reduction gearing consisting of the pinion 60 on the minute hand shaft, the gear and pinion G2, 64, and the gear 66 on the hour hand shaft 68, are employed for driving the hour hand H5 at the proper rate of speed.

For driving the cam or star wheel 34, there is a gear 1!) connected with the second hand shaft which meshes with a gear 12 mounted on the shaft 14 traversing the clock work supporting frame and supporting the said star wheel. It will be apparent that the actual gearing between the second hand shaft and the star wheel could be varied in order to give the star wheel any rotational speed desired.

The connection between the pendulum arm 26 and the verge will best be seen in Figure 3 wherein it will be observed that the verge has 3 a hub 16 and that the upper end of the pendulum arm 26 terminates in a dead-eye arrangement 18 which fits over the said hub and is retained thereon by the washer 80.

It will be observed from the construction illustrated that there is no positive driving connection between the pendulum arm and the oscillating verge, but that power is only transmitted to the said pendulum arm by its frictional engagement with the hub of the verge. Because of this the pendulum is free to swing with true harmonic motion and so long as the verge is oscillated at the proper speed, regardless of whether it has true harmonic motion or not, the pendulum will be caused to swing through a predetermined arc and with substantially true harmonic motion.

The verge may be suitably journaled on the frame of the clock work adjacent the cam wheel by any suitable means such as by the shoulder screw and nut illustrated at El.

Due to the fact that the pendulum does swing with true harmonic motion and thus requires very little power to maintain it in oscillation, the swinging pendulum device of this invention may be applied to substantially any clock work and without requiring that the drive mechanism be made substantially larger. In most cases the drive mechanism can be retained in its present form and the device of the invention merely added directly to the mechanism.

It will also be apparent that by adjusting the speed of the star wheel and number of cam rises thereon, the verge can be made to oscillate at different speeds thereby to accommodate for pendulums of different length so that not only small mantle or table clocks can be manufactured, but also the larger wall and floor clocks in which the pendulum is substantially longer and has a much longer period.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination; a clock work including a synchronous electric drive motor, a pendulum, an escapement wheel connected with said motor to be driven thereby, a verge pivoted adjacent said wheel and in engagement therewith to be actuated thereby, and means frictionally connecting said verge with said pendulum, said means also forming the support for said pendulum.

2. In combination; a clock work including a synchronous electric drive motor, a pendulum, an escapement wheel connected with said motor to be driven thereby, a verge pivotally supported adjacent said wheel and in engagement therewith to be actuated thereby, and means suspending said pendulum from said Verge and forming the sole support of the pendulum and the sole driving connection between the pendulum and verge.

3. In a clock; hour, minute and second hands and shafts therefor, gearing interconnecting said shafts and a synchronous electric drive motor connected to drive said gearing, a star wheel geared to said second hand shaft, a verg pivoted adjacent said star wheel and having means engaging the teeth thereof, said verge having a hub, a supporting stud for said verge extending through said hub and having a head so said hub. head and the face of said verge form a channel, and a pendulum having an eye loosely fitting in said channel for frictionally suspending the pendulum from said verge whereby oscillation of said verge by said star wheel will cause said pendulum to oscillate.

4. In a clock; hour, minute and second hands and shafts therefor, gearing interconnecting said shafts and a synchronous electric drive motor to drive said gearing, a star wheel geared to said second hand shaft, a verge pivoted adjacent said star wheel and having two arm portions, pins in said arm portions engaging the teeth of said star wheel whereby rotation of said star wheel will cause said verge to oscillate, and a pendulum frictionally suspended from said verge to oscillate in unison therewith, said pendulum being solely supported by said verge.

5. In a clock; shafts for carrying the indicating means for the clock, means for driving said shafts at the proper rate of speed, an escapement device including a star wheel and a verge driven thereby connected to be actuated by said driving means, said verge having a cylindrical hub projecting from one side concentric with the axis on which the verge oscillates, and a pendulum having an eye loosely fitting said hub for frictionally connecting said pendulum with said verge to be oscillated thereby, said pendulum being of such a length that its harmonic period corresponds to the period of said verge as driven by said wheel.

6. In a clock; shafts for actuating the indicating means for the clock, means for driving said shafts at the proper rate of speed, a member connected to be driven in oscillating movement by said driving means and having a hub concentric with the axis about which said oscillation takes place, and a pendulum having an eye loosely fitting over said hub for frictionally suspend-- ing the pendulum from said member whereby oscillation of said member will also oscillate said pendulum.

7. In a clock; shafts for actuating the indicating means for the clock, means for driving said shafts at the proper rate of speed, a member connected to be driven in oscillating movement by said driving means and having a hub, and a pendulum having an eye in its upper end receivable over the hub for frictionally suspending the pendulum from said member whereby oscillation or said member will also oscillate said pendulum, said pendulum being of such length that its natural harmonic period corresponds in time to the period of oscillation of said member.

WILLIAM L. HANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 197,832 Davies et al Dec. 4, 1877 251,532 Doolittle Dec. 27, 1881 1,868,941 Herschede et a1 July 26, 1932 2,194,508 Mason Mar. 26, 1940 

